Incident: Firefly AT72 at Koh Samui on Mar 17th 2012, high powered communication exchange in cockpit, spiral dive in initial climb.
A Firefly Avion de Regional Transport ATR-72-500, flight FY-3609 from Koh Samui (Thailand) to Kuala Lumpur Subang (Malaysia) with 70 passengers,
was taxiing for departure when captain and second officer at the flight deck began to engage in a debate. While the aircraft lined up for departure
on runway 17, flaps in takeoff position, shouting from the flight deck was heard in the passenger cabin. The initial takeoff run appeared sluggish,
about half way down the runway engines were accelerated, the takeoff acceleration returned to normal and the aircraft rotated safely off the runway,
shouting continued throughout the takeoff run. While climbing out of the runway flaps and gear were retracted, shouting still continued, at about
1500 feet AGL the aircraft rolled slightly right followed by pronounced roll to the left to beyond 45 degrees of bank, the aircraft lost about 500 feet
of height before the wing rolled sharply level and the aircraft recovered from the dive. While shouting still continued on the flight deck the flight set
course to Kuala Lumpur, about 15 minutes after departure the shouting ceased. The aircraft landed safely in Kuala Lumpur about 2 hours after departure.
Full story HERE.
Credit: The Aviation Herald.
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